Stephen Thorn, former obstetrician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea, is joining the practice at Mercy Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, according to the Mason City, Iowa-based clinic this week.

Thorn, who has more than 30 years of experience delivering care to women, parted ways with the Albert Lea clinic in April 2011. He had worked there since October 1981.

It is unclear why he left.

A call to Thorn’s home in Albert Lea on Wednesday was not immediately returned, and Mayo Clinic Health System officials declined to comment, noting an internal policy regarding employees.

According to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, Thorn obtained his medical degree from a university in Guadalajara, Mexico. He obtained post-graduate training in obstetrics and gynecology from the University of California-Davis. He has never faced disciplinary actions from the state.

He has been recognized nationally for performance in his field of medicine, being named among America’s Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2004-05 by the Consumer’s Research Council of America, receiving the Physician Recognition Award in 2005-08 from the American Medical Association, and receiving a patient’s choice award in 2010 from the American Registry.

He begins seeing patients May 1.